Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1887-05-25
Gales and Sketfhes.
A NEW ENGLAND NUN.
CONTINUED from Yesterday

died. and she was all alone in the world.
But greatest happening OF ala subtle
happening which both we're too simple to
Observation-Disclosures feet had turned into
path, smooth maybe under calm, Sc
rene sky. but so straight and answering
that 1t could only meet check at her
grave. and so narrow that there was no
room tor any one at her side.
Louisa's first emotion when Joe Dagget
came home Che had not apprised her Of
his coming) was CONSERVATION, although
she would not admit it to herself, and he
never dreamed OF it. Fifteen years ago
she had been in love with him-at least
she considered herself to be. Just at that
time, acquiescing with and falling into
the natural DRIFT of girlhood, she had seen
marriage ahead as a reasonable feature
and probable desrability of life. She
had listened with calm docility to her
mothers views upon the subject. Her
mother was remarkable for her cool sense
and sweet, even temperament. She
talked wisely to her daughter when Joe
Dagget presented himself. and Louisa ac-
cepted him with no hesitation. He was
the first lover she had ever had.
She had been faithful TO him all these
years. She had never dreamed of the
possibility of marrying any one else. Her
life. especially for the last seven years,
had been full OF pleasant peace, she had
never felt discontinued nor impatient
over her lovers absence; still she had al
ways looked forward to his return and
their marriage as the inevitable conclu-
sion of things. However, she had fallen
into way of placing 1t so far in the
future that it was almost equal to plac
ing it over the boundaries of another
life.
When Joe came, she had been expect
ing him, and expecting to be married for
fourteen years. but she was as much sur
prised and taken aback as if she had
never thought of him.
Joe's CONSERVATION came later. He
eyed Louisa with an instant confirmation
OF his old admiration. She had changed
but little. She still kept her pretty man
ner and soft grace, and was, he considered
every whit as attractive as ever. AS for
| himself, his stent was done; he had turned
his face away from fortuhe-seeking, and
the old winds of romance whstled as
| loud and sweet as ever through his ears
! All the song which he had been wont tC
hear in them was Louisa; he had for q
! long time loyal belief that he heard il
still, but finally it seemed to him that al.
though the winds sang always that one
song, it had another name. But fol-
Louisa the wind had never more thar
murmured; now it had gone down, anC
everything was still. She listened for q
little with half wistfu attention; then she
turned quietly away and went to work on
her wedding clothes,
| Joe had made some extensive and quite
magnificent alterations in his house. |,
was the old homestead; the newly mar
ried couple would live there, for Joe
could not desert his mother, who refused
to leave her old home. SO Louisa must
leave hers. Every morning, rising and
going about among her small neat maid
enlv possessions, she felt as one looking
her last upon the faces of dear friends. 1t
was true that in a measure she could take
them with her, but, robbed of their old
environments they would appear in such
new guises that they would almost cease
to be themselves. Then there were some
peculiar features of her happy solitary
life she would probably be obliged to re-
lnqush altogether. Sterner tasks than
these graceful but half-needless ones
would probably devolve upon her. There
would be 'arge house to care for there
would be company to entertain; there
would be Joe's rigorous and feeble old
mother to wait upon; and it would be
contrary to all thrifty village traditions
for her to keep more than one servant.
Louisa had little still. and she used to
occupy herself pleasantly in summer
weather with distilling the sweet and
aromatic essences from roses and pepper
mint and spearmint. By-and-by her still
must be laid away. Her store of essences
was already considerable. and there would
be no time for her to distil for the mere
pleasure of it. Then Joe's mother would
think it fooishness; she had already
limited her opinion in the matter Louisa
| dearly we'd to sew linen seam, not
always for use, but for the simple mild
pleasure which she took in it. She would
have been loatne to confess how more
than once she had ripped a seam for the
mere delight of sewing it together again.
Sitting at her window during long sweet
afternoons, drawing her needle gently
through the dainty fabric, she was
peace itself. But there was small chance
OF such foolish comfort in the future
Joe mother. domineering, shrewd old
matron that she was even in her old age
and very likely even Joe himself, with his
honest masculine rudeness. would laugh
and trown down all these pretty but sense
less old maiden ways.
Louisa had almost the enthusiasm of ar
artist over the mere order and cleanliness.
of her solitary home. She had throbs OF
genuine triumphs at the sight OF the win
dow-panes which she had polished unit
they shone like jewels. She gloated gent
ly over her orderly bureau drawers. with
their exqustey folded contents redolent
with lavender and sweet clover and very
purity. Could she be sure of the endur.
ance of even thisa She had visions, SC
startling that she half repudiated them as
indicate, of coarse masculine belong
ings strewn about in endless litter; OF
dust and disorder arising necessarily from
a coarse masculine presence in the midst
of all this delicate harmony.
Among her forebodings of disturbance
not the least was with regard to Caesar
Cesar was veritable hermit of dog
For the greater part of his life he had
dwelt in his secluded hut shut out from
the society of his kind and all innocent
canine joys. Never had Caesar since his
esrly youth watched at a woodchuck' s
hole; never had he known the delights Of
a stray bone at neighbours kitchen door